HIMACHAL PRADESH

Scientists fromIIT Mandihave developed a computational model for automated disease detection in potato crops using photographs of its leaves. The research led by Srikant Srinivasan, associate professor, School of Computing and Electrical Engineering, IIT Mandi, in collaboration with the Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, uses (AI) techniques to highlight the diseased portions of the leaf.

The computational tool can detect blight in potato leaf images. The model is built using an AI tool called mask region-based convolutional neural https://exam.pscnotes.com/Network“>Network architecture and can accurately highlight the diseased portions of the leaf amid a complex background of plant and Soil matter.

Stressing the need for protected and balanced development in the direction of Environment conservation, the Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday said that India is emitting the least carbon as compared to the western countries and their environment was so unbalanced that it affected the whole world.

The Governor, addressing the gathering as the chief guest at the North Zone Environment Workshop organized by Arogya Bharti Himachal Pradesh in association with National institute of technology, Hamirpur at NIT, said that Himachal has good environmental condition and we need to preserve our green cover. For a healthy life, we have to adopt chemical free agricultural practices and go back to , he added.

Shukla further said that water scarcity was another important factor today which needs our attention. The water sources of major rivers of the northern region are under threat of pollution, overuse, and encroachment. Rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, and community awareness campaigns could go a long way in ensuring sustainable water supply for future generations, he added.

He also stressed on safeguarding the fragile Ecosystems and Biodiversity of the northern region and said that conservation of habitats of endangered species of wildlife should be given priority and activities like deforestation, illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction should be discouraged.

Himachal PradeshCM JairamThakursaid China is doing “surveillance activities” in its border area.

The CM had visited the Indo-China border areas at Samdo in Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh recently.

Thakur said he went to the border areas following inputs after the violation of the state airspace last year by Chinese helicopters and some construction activities, including those of roads near the border.

It also decided to provide Rs. 1500 per month as Indira Gandhi Mahila Samman Nidhi to all the eligible Women of Spiti Valley including Chhomos/nuns from the age of 18 years and above.

The cabinet also gave its nod to introduce e-stamping in the State for the collection of stamp duty to promote . It decided to stop printing physical stamp papers with immediate effect and to authorize Stamp Vendors as Authorized Collection Centres. It also gave its nod to continue with a dual system of stamps, i.e. physical stamp paper and e-stamp paper from 1st April, 2023 to 31st March, 2024 and after 1st April, 2024 physical stamp paper will be discontinued completely.

In another decision, the Cabinet decided to give Rs. 600 in lieu of school uniforms through DBT to all eligible students.It also decided to increase the honorarium of Nambardars in the Revenue Department from Rs. 3200 to Rs. 3700 per month as per the budget announcement, which will benefit about 3177 Nambardars in the State.

All sanitation workers in the (ULBs), including municipal corporations, municipal councils, nagar parishads and nagar panchayats, will be given an incentive of Rs 2,000 per month for April, May and June, 2021, keeping in view the vital Services they are rendering in maintaining hygiene in the urban areas during the Covid-19 pandemic.

CM Jai Ram Thakur urges representatives of urban local bodies to remain in constant contact with the family members of the person in Home isolation

Asks them to ensure that people come forward for test as it has been found that delay in going to hospital leads to deterioration of condition and increase in deaths

Tells them to maintain better coordination with the Health Department to check the spread of the pandemic

Thakur said the elected representatives should also come forward to ensure that in case of unfortunate death of Covid patients, the last RITES of the deceased were performed as per the protocol. He said the State Government was also considering providing PPE kits to health institutions so that the last rites could be performed as per the protocol.

The Centre has asked the to expedite land acquisition for the remaining four phases of the Pathankot-Mandi fourlane project.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has asked the state for the quick disbursal of compensation for land to the affected people for expediting the NH project.

The project falls among the top priority projects since this road will link Pathankot with Leh and Ladakh. The government of India had shelved the Bilaspur-Leh rail line project. Therefore, the Pathankot-Mandi project has now gained more importance and the government wants to complete it at the earliest.

The bidding process for the first phase of the Pathankot-Mandi project had been completed last month and the construction works valuing over Rs 800 crore had been awarded to IRB Infrastructure. This company has also been directed to complete the project within two years.

Himachal Chief MinisterSukhvinder Singh Sukhuon Thursday asked the representatives ofelectric vehiclesmanufacturing companies to make the state-specificprototype electric busesin a time bound manner with modern technology. In a meeting with the representatives, he said that the buses should be made keeping in mind the hilly terrain, loading capacity and luggage space, a statement issued here said.

The chief minister said a committee would be constituted to decide all the modalities and specifications for the prototype e-buses under the chairmanship of the state chief secretary.

The is committed to provide best and comfortable transportation Services to the people. He said that the state government is making earnest efforts to preserve and conserve the Environment and switching over to e-vehicles would be a milestone in this direction.

The state government is planning to make Parwanoo-Nalagarh-Una-Hamirpur-Nadaun-Dehra highway as a ‘Clean and Green’ corridor and necessary Infrastructure would be created in this regard.

While Himachal’s presenting theHimachal Pradesh economic survey2021-22 in the vidhan sabha on Thursday, chief ministerJai Ram Thakursaid that economy is expected to witness Growth of 8.3 per cent in 2021-22.

In real terms, the increase in GSDP pre-Covid and post-Covid is 2.7 per cent and sectors of the economy, pre-pandemic levels of output have been crossed, according to the survey.
The CM said the Real GDP or GDP at constant prices (2011-12) in the year 2021-22 is estimated at Rs 1,24,400 crore, as against the provisional estimate of GDP for the year 2020-21 of Rs 1,14,814 crore.

Nominal GDP or GDP at current prices in the year 2021-22 is estimated at Rs 1,75,173 crore, as against the provisional estimate of GDP for the year 2020-21 of Rs 1,56,675 crore.

The Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and allied sectors have been the least impacted by the pandemic and the sector is expected to grow by 8.7 per cent in 2021-22.

As per the advance estimates the gross value added (GVA) of Industry will rise by 11 per cent in 2021-22 after contracting by 6.6 per cent in 2020-21.

Ahead of the first budget session of Himachal Pradeshs newly elected Vidhan Sabha, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress Government has invited suggestions from the general public, industries, trade and farmers association on the state budget for the year 2023-24.

Initiating the process of formulation of this years state budget, the suggestions have been invited to make it more people-centric, participative and reflective of the views of various stakeholders in the Society.

The Union Government has given in-principle approval for the appointment of ASHA facilitators, for which the required modalities were being finalised. The appointments would be made soon, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Rajiv Saizal said while presiding over a meeting of ASHA workers.

He said the decision would go a long way in meeting the ASHA workers demand of timely release of monthly incentives. The workers had been rendering valuable Services to the and the Society during the challenging times of Covid-19 and the state was resolute to provide them best facilities.

A notification had been issued to pay Covid incentive of Rs 1,500 to the ASHA workers, as per the announcement of the Chief Minister. The government would also sympathetically consider travelling allowance facility to them and the matter of enhanced incentives would be raised with the Centre, the minister said.